European leaders have reiterated their demand to be included in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, despite signals from both Washington and Moscow that they have no role in the talks for now.
An emergency summit held at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Monday brought together leaders from Germany, the U.K., Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, NATO, and the European Union. However, the meeting ended without a unified stance on key issues, including the possibility of deploying peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.
Europe Calls for U.S. Partnership in Peace Process
French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that he had spoken separately with U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the meeting.
“We seek a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine. To achieve this, Russia must end its aggression, and this must be accompanied by strong and credible security guarantees for the Ukrainians,” Macron said on social media. He emphasized that Europe must work together with the U.S. and Ukraine to secure a viable peace deal.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged the U.S. to back European efforts, stating that a strong transatlantic alliance remains essential. He suggested that Britain could send troops to Ukraine as part of a post-war peacekeeping mission—a move that divided European leaders.
While some, like Poland, firmly opposed military involvement, others were open to discussions. Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed the idea as premature, stating, “We don’t even know what the outcome of the negotiations will be.”
U.S. and Russia Dismiss European Role in Talks
Despite European leaders pushing for involvement, the U.S. and Russia made it clear that they do not see a role for Europe in the upcoming negotiations.
Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, emphasized that keeping talks “clean and fast” was the priority. He told reporters in Brussels, “It’s not reasonable or feasible to have everybody sitting at the table.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov echoed this sentiment, stating that Europe had no place in the talks. Speaking in Saudi Arabia, where he met with U.S. officials, Lavrov dismissed the European stance, saying, “I don’t know what they have to do at the negotiation table.”
Europe Stands Firm on Support for Ukraine
Despite these setbacks, European leaders remain committed to Ukraine’s defense and long-term security. German Chancellor Scholz stressed that any deal with Russia must be acceptable to Ukraine and should not be imposed on them.
“For us, it is clear: Peace cannot be dictated. Ukraine must not be forced to accept what is presented to it,” Scholz said.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also warned against rewarding Russia for its aggression, stating that any peace agreement must involve the EU and Ukraine to prevent a repeat of past failed ceasefires.
With defense spending rising across Europe, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk insisted that the continent must enhance its military capabilities. “The time has come for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defense,” he said.
As the war in Ukraine enters a critical phase, Europe faces a difficult balancing act—ensuring Ukraine’s security while navigating strained transatlantic ties and growing geopolitical uncertainties.
![](https://amnewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ami-banner.png"/)
